Padlock



Aug- 28, 1934 c. w. MEADOWCROFT, SR 1,971,914

PADLOCK Filed April 19, 1934 Patented ug. 28?, 1934 UNIT-so STATES PATENT( OFFICE Application April;4 1 9, 1934', serial No. 721,325

12 Y claims; (01.; 704-113) My invention relatesto improvements in pad.- ocks and particularly to the type known-as `key'- less, kor combination locks.

The object of my invention is to provide a padlock comprising a casing having sections, one of which is rotatable relatively to iixed-V sections, and providing novel means within the 'casing for engaging and releasing a'shackle by the rotation oi the intermediate, or rotatable section.

A further object is to provide a'novel form of ring bolt which is concealed within a iixed section of the casing, and arranged for engaging the shackle.

A further object is to provide novel co-opl5 erating means between therotatablese'ction and the ring boltfor rotating the latter.-

A further object is to` construct the ring bolt so that both bars of the U`shaped shackle `will be held in locking engagement. Y

A further object is to provide a novel arrangement of the markings upon the 'adjacent sections of the-'casing whereby onlyone setof markings can be made to register at the same-radial position or the rotatable section. l

These together with various other novel features ofconstruction and operation ofthe parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed, constitute my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a padlock embodying my' invention. Y

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts in the unlocked position.

Fig. 3' is a view in elevation of the padlock sho-wing the novel arrangement of the markings upon the sections.

Fig. 4 isa diagram showing the development of the surfaces of the sections of the 'casing and illustrating the arrangement. ofthe markings.

Fig. 5 is a" perspective View of the parts of the padlock, detached. n

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6 6 Fig. 7'.

Fig.A 7 is a'vertcal section of a lock showing a diierent form of my invention. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of Fig. 7. y

In the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts, l0 represents a casing, orhousing, preferably formed of stamped metal, and comprising a main section 12, and a lower section 13, embracing an inter'- mediat'e section. The sections 12 and 13Vare of cup shaped formation, having disks 14 and 15,

and cylindrical Walls 16 and'17, respectively. The

disk 14 is provided with Ia depressed portion surrounding a centrally located aperture, which' is occupiedby one en'd of a post 20, extending axiall apertures in parallel relation tothe post 20.

Thelower end section 13 is similar in construction to the section 12. In the' form shown in Figs. 1 to'5 the sectio'n'l't is provided with a cup shaped cap 29, rigidly secured, by bracing, to 'the wall 17, of"section 13.1'

Thedisk 15 of. the section 13 is vprovided with an aperture'BO throughwhichfthe longer bar of the shackle extends and is guidedby the disk 15. The bar 28has an enlarged end 31', which engages the disk A15, for limiting the' upward movement of the bar, as shown in Fig. 2. Y

' An intermediate section 35, has a' cylindrical wall 36, which is positioned between thefend sections 12 and 13. Said sections have annular' shoulders 317, `38,and 39, ofsm-allendiameter than the cylindrical Walls of the sections.l The shoulders 37 and 38v are' tted within the adjacent sections andare loosely mounted in the walls of the next adjacent sections.' Annular' bearings are thus formed upon which thesection 35l is rotatably' mounted betweenthe end sections 12 and 13 and also held in axial alignment with the end sections. i K The section 35 is provided with an annular, inwardly projecting, flange 40. The bar 28? of the shackle has a recess 41 formed therein which' is occupied by the flange 10. thus 4locking the bar 28 Within the casing. The Harige 40" is rotatable through the recess i1v formed in the bar, and said flange 40 is providedwitha recess, or.' gating 42, through 'which the rbar 28 may freely Apass when the section 35isv rotated' to a position'in which the gating willlregisterwith the bar 28?. Y ring'bolt l115,'haviriga cylindrical wall 46',-and an annular vinwardly projecting ange 47,: is concealed Within the main Section '12. The lring bolt isY rotatably'mounted' within the cylindrical wall 160i the section 125I f v The ring-bolt isformed of spririgmetal, and it is split at 48, so that the'wall 46willtend to bind against the wall 16 and prevent accidentalrotation of the ring bolt. 1 i

The ring bolt 45 -i-s positioned-between the inner bearing surface oftheshoulder 39 formed of the intermediate section 35. Said shoulders 37 and 39 form thrust bearings for the ring bolt, and the shoulder 39 positions the ring bolt in spaced relation to the disk 14 of the main section 12.

The inwardly projecting flange 47, of the'ring bolt, embraces the bars 27 and 28 of the shackle. Said bars have recesses and 51 formed therein, which are occupied by the flange 47 for locking said bars. The flange 47 is provided with recesses, or gatings 52 and 53, through which the bars 27 and 28 may freely pass, when the ring bolt is rotated to align said gatings with said bars.

The intermediate section and the ring bolt 45 are provided with coi-operatingl parts and arranged for rotating the ring bolt by the movements of the intermediate section. A projection, or tongue 55 is located upon the intermediate section 35, and the cylindrical wall 46, of the ring bolt, is provided with a notch 56, which is occupied by the tongue 55. The tongue engages'the cylindrical wall 46 at either end of the notch 56, by which arrangement the ring bolt may be rotated by thesection 35. The notch 56 isof greater length than the width of the tongue 55, so that the section 35 may have a partial rotary motion in relation. to the ring bolt, without rotating the latter.

The fianges 40 and 47 have the gatings therein so located that the gatings will be staggered when the tongue 55 is in` engagementwith the ring bolt at either end of the notch 56, thus retaining the shackle locked within the casing.

The shackle is released from the intermediate section 35 by turning the latter YVtoal given position, 'as shown by the markings on the outer surfaces of the sections. During the movement of the section 35, the tongue 55 engages and rotates the ring bolt to a position in which the gatings 52 and 53 in the flange 47, of the ring bolt, will register with, and release, the bars-.27 andf28 from the ring bolt. The section 35 is then rotated in a'reverse direction, in which the tongue 55 will move in the notch 56 without turning the ring bolt. When the Vsection 35 is so turned in the reverse direction until certain other markings register, the gating 42 in the flange 40 will align with the bar 28 and the latter will be released from the intermediate section 35. The shackle is thus entirely released from the flange 40 of the section 35and from the flange 47 of the ringbolt, and may bewithdrawn from the casing, as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates the arrangement of the markings upon the sections of the casing. The end sections 12 and 13 are shown with ten spaces between the markings 60 and 61. The intermediate section 35 is provided with nine spaces between the markings 62. Unequal space relations are thus formed between the markings upon the fixed sections 12 and 13, and the markings upon the rotatable section 35. The markings upon the sections are arranged similar to the markings upon a Vernier scale. By this arrangement only one set of markings on the different sections can be made to register at one time, as shown at F. O..X. Fig. 4. The unequal spaces between the markings of the diierent sections make it more difficult to open the lock when the combination is unknown.

Figs. 6 to 8 illustrate another form of my invention. This construction is particularly adapted for locks having the casing'sections formed of cast metal.V The endsections-71 and 72 are of on section 12, and the flange or the shoulder 37 hollow cup shaped formation and they are inverted and rigidly secured together by a central post 73, thus forming a hollow chamber throughout the length of the casing. The intermediate section 74 is provided with two annular anges, or shoulders, 75 and 76, which are rotatably mounted upon the cylindrical walls of the end sections 7l and 72.

|The end section 72 is provided with a post 77, which loosely enters a bore formed in the inner end of the bar 78 of the shackle 79, thus forming a guide for the inner end of the bar 78.

`A ring bolt 80 is rotatably mounted in the section 7l. The ring bolt is split at 8l which allows vit to bind suiiiciently within the section 71 to prevent the accidental rotation of the ring bolt.

The intermediate section and the ring bolt have cro-operating parts in the form of a projection 82 on the intermediate section, and a notch 83, formed in the ring bolt, and occupied by the projection 82. The flanges 85 and 86 interlock with the shackle in a manner similar to the lock shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and above described.

The central post73 is provided with. a radial bearing 88in which is mounted a pin 89. A spring 90 urges the pin against the inner cylindrical wall of the section 74. The latter is provided with recesses 91 to partially receive the end of the pin. Whenthe section 74 is rotated the pin will be moved over the surface of the wall of section 74 and the lend vof the pin will enter the recesses 91 and make sufficient sound, or vibration, so that the operator can determine the relative position of the sections by counting the recesses over which the Ypin passes.

The section 74 has the series of recesses 91 arranged with one recess 92, see Fig. 7,r made larger, orspaced at a different-distance from the other recesses, sorthat said recess 92 can be used as a starting position from which to count the recesses as the section 74 is rotated. By this arrangement allmarkings upon the outside of the lock may beeliminated. f

The operation of my invention is as follows: The shackle is locked by pushing thebars into the casing and rotating the intermediate section in either direction. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the shackle is released by rotating the intermediate section 35 to register the predetermined markings of the combination, such as E. O. W.- F. O. X. This combination being known, the

iirst operation to open the lock is to turn the section 35 to the left until the markings E. O. W. register. This movement will cause the tongue 55 on the section 35 to rotate the ring bolt 45 to a position in which the gatings 52 and 53 will register with and release the shackle bars from the ring bolt. The second operation is to rotate the section 35 in the reverse direction until the markings F. O. X. register. This movement will bring the gating 42 of the flange 40 into alignment with the bar 28, and entirely release the shackle. Said reverse movement does not move the ring bolt, as the tongue is free to move in the notch 56 of the ring bolt.

The markings G. O. Y. and F. O. X. may also be used for the same combination of the lock. In

.first rotating the intermediate section '74 until thepiniSQ enters acertain recess 9 2, indicating ed between the vend sections, said end sectionsV `being of `hollow, cup shaped' formation, a post upon which the end sections are rigidly mounted, a shacklel having a part extending into said sections, aring bolt rotatably mounted withinan end section, interlocking means upontne ring boit and the shackle, and co-operating parts upon the intermediate section and the ring bolt and arranged for engaging and disengagingthe latter from the shackle.y

2. A padlock having in combinationLanj intermediate section, said section having a cylindrical wall, end sections located upon opposite ends ci the cylindrical wall, means rigidlysecuring the end sections together in spaced relation to each other, annular bearing surfaces upon lsaid end sections upon which the intermediate section is rotatably mounted, a shackle having a bar eX- tending into said sections, a ring bolt rotatable within an end section, interlocking means upon the ring bolt and the shackle har, and co-operating parts upon the intermediate section and the ring bolt and arranged Vfor rotating the ring bolt relatively to the shackle.

3. A padlock having in combination, end sections, cylindrical Walls upon said sections, a post upon which the end sections are rigidly mounted, an intermediate section positioned between said Walls, an annular shoulder upon the intermediate section and extending into the wall of an end section and rotatably mounting the intermediate section, a ring bolt rotatably mounted within an end section, said bolt having a notch formed therein, a projection upon the intermediate section and positioned within said notch, an internal flange upon the ring bolt, a shackle having a recess formed therein to receive said flange, and said flange having a gating formed therein for the free passage of the shackle.

4. A padlock having in combination, end secions of cup shaped formation, a post upon which the end sections are rigidly secured, an intermediate section rotatably mounted between the end sections, a shackle having parallel bars extending into one end section, a ring bolt positioned Within an end section and rotatable therein, an annular inwardly projecting flange upon the ring bolt, said bars each having recesses formed therein to receive said flange, said flange having gatings formed therein for the free passage of said bars, and co-op'erating parts upon said intermediate section and said ring bolt and arranged for rotating the latter by the rotation of the intermediate section.

5. A padlock comprising end sections, an intermediate section rotatably mounted between the end sections, a shackle, interlocking means between said intermediate section and the-shackle, a ring bolt rotatably mounted and concealed within said sections, interlocking means between the ring bolt and the shackle, and co-operating parts upon said intermediate section and said ring bolt for engaging and disengaging-thelatter from the shackle.

6.*Ajpadlock comprising, cylindrical end sections, a post upon which the end sections arerigidly secured, an intermediate section positioned between and rotatable upon an end section'a ring therein through whichthe bar may freely pass,

and cooperating parts upon said intermediate section andthe ringy 1colt and arrangedfor rotating the latter by therotation.ortheintermediate section. i 'l 7. A padlock comprising, a cup shaped end-,95 section, a post rigidlysecured to said section, a section secured upon the opposite end of said post, an intermediate section rotatably mounted between said sections,a ring bolt rotatably mounted within said end section, a shackle bar extending'l() into said end section, annular anges upon the intermediate section and upon the ring bolt and arranged for engaging said bar, a projection upon the intermediate section, said ring bolt having a notch formed therein andoccupied bysgaid pro- '165 jection, said notch having suiiicient length. to permit the projection to have a partial rotary movement independently of the ring bolt, said ilange on the ring bolt having a gating formed therein and radially positioned thereon for the free pas-,11o sage of said barwhen the ring bolt is rotated to* a given position by said projection, and said flange on the intermediate section having a gating formed therein and radially positioned thereon for the free passage of said bar when the intermediate section is rotated in a direction to move the pro jection in said notch without moving the ring bolt. v

8. A padlock comprising, a main end section of hollow formation, a p ost secured to said sec-,1gol

tion, an end section secured to the opposite endv of said post, an intermediate section rotatably mounted between the end sections, a shackle having parallel bars, a ring bolt rotatably mounted in the main section, an annular flange upon the 125. ring bolt, saidl shackle bars each having re-` `v cesses formed therein to receive said flange, said ange having gatings formed therein for the free passage of said bars, an annular ange upon the intermediate section, one of said bars 13g having a r cess therein to receive the last men-` tioned flange, said last mentioned flange havingV a gating therein, co-operating parts upon the intermediate section and the ring bolt for rotating the latter, and said gatings located in staggered relation to said parts.

V9. A padlock comprising, hollow cylindrical end sections, an end disk upon each section, apost secured between said disks and rigidly holding the sections in spaced relation, anintermediate 14@ section positioned between the end sections, an-f nular interlocking shoulders upon said sections rotatably mounting the intermediate section upon the end sections, a shackle having parallel bars, one of said end disks having apertures formed therein for the passage of said bars, a post uponl the opposite end disk and forming a guide upon which one of the bars of the shackle is slidably mounted, an annular flange upon the intermediate section, one of said bars having a recess 15g,

formed therein and occupied by said flange, said flange having a gating formed therein for the free passage of the bar, a ring bolt rotatably mounted Within an end section, an annular iange upon the ring bolt, said bars having recesses formed therein to receive the last mentioned ange, said last mentioned flange having gatings formed therein for the free passage of said bars, and co-operating parts upon the intermediate section and the ring bolt and arranged for rotating the latter by the rotation of the intermediate section.

` l0. A padlock comprising, a cylindrical main section, a shackle mounted upon said section, a cylindrical section rotatably mounted in axial relation to the main section, a series of markings upon each section, the markings upon the rotatable section having a dilerent space relation bejtween the markings relatively to the space relation between the markings upon the main section, co-operating locking means between the rotatable section and the shackle, a ring bolt :rotatably mounted within the main section, cooperating locking means between the ring bolt and the shackle, and engaging means upon said rotatable section and upon the ring bolt and arranged for rotating the latter by the rotatable ,section and for releasing the shackle when preldetermined markings of said sections register.

11. A padlock comprising, a casing, a cylindrical Wall upon the casing, a shackle mounted upon the casing, a bar upon the shackle extending axially relatively to said wall, a rotatable section, means rotatablymounting the latter upon the casing, a ring bolt of splitformation mounted Within said cylindrical wall, interlocking means upon the ring bolt and the shackle, and cooperating parts upon the rotatable section and the ring bolt and arranged for engaging and disengaging the latter from the shackle.

12. A padlock comprising, end sections, cylindrical walls upon said sections, a post upon which the end sections are rigidly mounted, an intermediate section positioned in axial alignment with said walls, meansrotatably mounting the intermediate section between said end sections, a ring bolt of split formation, a cylindrical wall upon said bolt and rotatably mounted within the cylindrical Wall of an end section, said last mentioned wall and said wall of the ring bolt being in` frictional contact to retard the rotation of the ring bolt, a shackle having a part extending within said sections, interlock- Aing means upon the ring bolt and the shackle,

and co-operating parts upon the intermediate section and the ring bolt and-arranged for engaging and disengaging the latter with the shackle.

CHARLES W'. MEADOWCROFT, SR. 

